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Christmas Letter 2021

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Another pandemic-dominated year almost done, which save for three weeks of lockdown at the end of winter, had – compared to many parts of the world – mercifully little impact on the small part I inhabit. It did at least serve as a regular reminder to make the most of opportunities, as one never really knows when they may disappear. On a personal note, I seemed to have taken an unexpected, sometimes trying, route to get to where I planned to be in some years time. That is, resigning from a good job, selling my house in Napier and moving south to Otago to be closer to family.

Entering the new year with my arm in a sling, yet again, more surgery on my shoulder seemed a possibility. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to ride the two bikepacking events of the summer. But the shoulder settled and I enjoyed going a bit slower on the excellent Great Southern Brevet as a test of my capability to tackle Tour Te Waipounamu two weeks later. As good as the GSB was, being flown to and from Tekapo by Guy in his Cessna rates as one of the biggest highlights of the year. The light plane travel and views it afforded of the country were endlessly fascinating.

A bit of aerial Tour Te Waipounamu scouting.

The relaxed pace of what was last-ditch effort of TTW preparation made for a very social ride – with much time spent with, both, other riders, and visiting friends and family en route. Most enjoyable and nowhere near as challenging as the 2019 edition, with its traverses of mountain ranges in gale force winds.

The late evening climb to the Garston Ski Hut bordered on majestical.

The following morning wasn’t too shabby either.

Knobby Range was one of the few parts of the course new to me, and with a lovely morning (before the cruel southerly change) to enjoy it – one of my favourite parts.

The two weeks before Tour Te Waipounamu were a blur of GSB recovery, last minute preparation, work, little sleep and much writing. I kept telling myself that being underdone physically in preparing for what I expected to be the toughest bikepacking event I’d attempted was a good idea – although I was sceptical. In its first year, fifty riders were selected to race from the top to bottom of the South Island – with much of the course going through private land in the high country. There would be much pushing and carrying of bikes through the middle section – not exactly my forte.

It went as well as I could have hoped – I saw so much new country and many tremendous sights, the weather was exceedingly kind, the course provided the challenge I expected and I was able to finish a couple of days faster than planned. Sure, I could have gone a bit faster – but would have involved more night-riding, which I’m seldom keen to sacrifice seeing things for. There’s a comprehensive film of the race, which naturally I think is worth the fee.

Photo from hikebikecake.com

After averaging 200 km/day for the first two, the third of moving all day only netted sixty-four. A bit of a shock with all the pushing and carrying, but we made it over the toughest part of the course – the mostly-trackless Dampier Range.

A glorious warm evening pushing solo through the expanses of Mesopotamia Station was the stand-out moment of the race for me. Perhaps helped by having studied this area from the air three weeks before.

Another sixty-odd kilometre day involved much more rocky pushing and carrying to the high point of the course.

Things didn’t let up from there, with two hot and dry days into the heart of Otago.

A beautiful start to the last, and interestingly, easiest day of riding.

Made it! Well pleased with that week and completing the inaugural event.

Starting with a dislocated shoulder, I was thrilled how the first few months played out – it took some time to come off those highs. This was useful as I was already starting to wonder how I was going to make it through another year or so of process safety engineering – having recently realised my house had increased in value so much over five years (bonkers, disturbingly and ultimately bad news for NZ), that I’d be where I wanted to be financially five years earlier than expected. Unusually for me, around this time a relationship suddenly flourished and showed potential. Alas, I was mistaken and it ended as inexplicably as it began, taking a fair bit of dealing with.

Into and through winter was tough as I quickly realised just how unchallenged and disengaged I’d become at work, most unexpected from both my normal working self and a role that had challenged me for over five years. Energy levels were low and I struggled to get motivated to get out and about exploring in my usual way out of work – let alone working well. Maybe it was the lack of sleep – which had started with trying to sleep with an arm in a sling again. Something was wrong, but I no idea what was cause and what was effect. Stumbling over this article, at work unsurprisingly, ticked so many boxes it wasn’t funny – who knew boreout is even a thing? How did I get there?! Most things has always been interesting to me on some level…

About the only thing that was going well through this time, counter-intuitively, was running. Still regularly turning up at the local parkrun (free timed 5 km run around a local park every Saturday morning), I had a staggering run of personal bests. I’d not come remotely close to my PB of just over nineteen minutes in eighteen months. Perhaps with a bit more conditioning from TTW and a small foray into trail running (finally), five PBs over seven parkruns both surprised and pleased me no end. Almost a minute off and down close to eighteen minutes (didn’t quite make it before lockdown… parkrun has still not restarted) was astonishing.

Having on a whim signed up for a very hilly, mid-winter Central Otago trail half-marathon was the motivation to spend a bit more time running in the local hills. One of my few minor regrets from six years in Hawke’s Bay is not having spent more time running and hiking in the Kawekas – much more to explore there when I make it back. It was good to get out there a bit for some training. The race went unexpectedly well, keeping a fair pace for the first eighteen kilometres – but fading in the last five when going downhill was slowed markedly to something of a hobble. Still, forty-five minutes faster than hoped and in some good company. A long weekend with the family and taking the balance bike I’d overhauled and resprayed bright green for my nephew were added bonuses of that trip.

Still not feeling myself, despite some excellent support, I finally went to the doctor with something non-shoulder related – can’t remember the last time, another thing to be grateful for – and a long list of rather vague complaints. Blood test results later and the first steps to an eventual haemochromatosis diagnosis were made (I’ll try not to go on, having mentioned it previously). Having not heard of it – either in my family, or indeed, at all – it was surprising, and also confronting. At least there was some reason many of my vague symptoms, there seems to be no organ damage so far and treatment is straightforward – even if it means getting used to regular insertion of needles larger than I’d prefer. The venesection took a frustratingly long time to get started, considering how simple it is, but once underway my iron levels have dropped nicely to be only just above what is normal – still some way to go to get them to the low side of normal, but some improvement in symptoms is apparent.

Unfortunately I didn’t have the inspiration, energy or motivation to run a Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Tour this year. Pleasingly Andrew managed to organise access through a lot of private farmland to realise his long-held desire to ride from Napier to Wellington following the coast. I was fortunate to ride on two of the trips which showed me a lot of the lower North Island shore that I’d have never seen otherwise.

Work eventually became untenable with the disengagement and iron-overload fatigue, so I resigned, served out a three-month notice period, sold my house (going to market the morning the country suddenly goes into lockdown not recommended) and prepared to move south to spend the summer with family – plenty of big changes for all approaching, so it made sense to be around while also having a bit of a break. The last two months in Hawke’s Bay were spent with various trips to say goodbye to people in the central North Island, plenty of small adventures (I was pleased to finally paddle down the Whanganui River, that quintessential NZ trip) – including some local favourites, selling or packing belongings, ordering a new mountain bike and unfortunately retiring the old one early, one bikepacking event, much blood-letting (actual) and final goodbyes.

Finally skiing in the North Island – first day of not-working.

Some favourite local gravel roads and hills.

Absolute favourite Hawke’s Bay viewpoint with a great crew to share it with.

Down the Whanganui.

The Renegades Muster was a fabulous inaugural bikepacking event in the Whanganui and Taranaki regions.

After two weeks driving south with plenty of visits to extended family and close friends, and small running/biking/hiking outings, I’m pleased to be down south with my family for Christmas and into the New Year. This year certainly has been one of much change for me, unfortunately a bit light on the bike with the bike-commute ending – only 9000 km, but I’ve enjoyed the extra running I’ve done – 500 km my biggest year yet, just. As for next year, who knows? Surely it can’t have as many big changes as this year; but just what it will hold is both exciting and daunting in the opportunities that may present and be taken. Hopefully the energy for more adventures and new sights…

Best wishes to all, thanks to all that have been along for the ride (literal and figurative) and offered support along the way.  Well done if you’ve managed to read so much of my writing – thank you.

around home, bikepacking, bikes, family, friends, NZ

Farewell Hawke’s Bay

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Asked last night what the highlight of over six years in Hawke’s Bay was, I struggled at first to answer. Far too big a question; then I struggled to stop listing just some of the things that have made my time in this region so wonderful. Naturally, I’ll try to write it instead, although I fear a long list and huge photo-dump…

Moving to Napier for work and an area completely new to me, I was fortunate to have stable employment at a large local employer in a role that developed and challenged me for five or so years, working with many who soon became firm friends. The mountain-bike park next door in company forest was a bonus and there was never a shortage of people to go for an after-work ride with, or riding adventures further afield.

Ah, the Pulpmill.

The forty-odd minute bike-commute to work was also easily achievable (except in the strongest of winds!) and as one former-colleague pointed out, the coastal section was one that people would come from afar to ride – often spectacular. The highway section was to be tolerated and survived – which I am only too pleased to have done, I only remember two very scary moments. Not bad in 25,000 km of riding – which certainly helped me keep a good base fitness and my vehicle expenses low.

Winter rides to work were often compensated for with the sunrise.

Having such a job enabled me to quickly buy a small house close to the city centre – very fortunate timing as prices were just beginning their ridiculous rise. A great little house, it quickly became home and I particularly appreciated being within easy walking distance of many attractions. Exploring the surrounding area by foot and bike was a favourite activity, always something new and interesting to find. Having my own home to welcome friends, family, cycle-touring and Airbnb guests was fantastic, as was having my own space to come home to. Various maintenance and improvement tasks were novel for quite a while, but the having time to explore the region became the priority in later years. The city’s annual Art Deco festival was always fun and a good reason to have visitors – a days-long dress-up party with plenty of old cars, buildings and so on to help celebrate.

I’ll miss this little home (still too big for me), but particularly that couch.

My favourite way to walk to town – to the end of the street, and down one of the many staircases/ramps to be discovered on the Hill.

Still amusing that work had this, but while it was available – I was happy to take it out for a run on a fitting occasion.

Eventually convinced that I should give running a go to use some different non-cycling muscles, the local parkrun proved a suitable gateway. That was the bulk of my running and part of a favourite Saturday morning routine of biking to, running, biking home via the Saturday morning Farmers’ Market, and then struggling up the hill with a loaded bike. I surprised myself in actually being able to run five kilometres, and was bewildered as I gradually got somewhat fast. A social and supportive environment for a wide variety, it was fun to catch-up with friends there. Completing the Hawke’s Bay Marathon was about as serious as my running ever got (all that training time could have been far better spent biking!), once was enough; too late, I made time to do a little trail running – far more fun!

Anderson parkrun is a flat, easy course!

Which brings me to the biking. Clearly I’ve loved the riding opportunities all over Hawke’s Bay. Dozens of rides up Te Mata Peak and still the view grabs me, always changing – sometimes subtly, sometimes more. The large network of flat cycle trails around and between the urban areas were my first gateway to exploring the area and are such an asset to the area. But it wasn’t long before I was looking beyond the Heretaunga Plains to the hills that were so enticing. The more I explored, I found there was the possibility riding from the south to north of the province with few busy roads to be negotiated. Initially it was just a challenge just for me, but I quickly realised there was a chance a couple of others might like to come along for the ride.

Looking back to Napier from the Peak.

Mt Erin from the Peak.

Somehow I ended up on Triple Peaks promotional shoot. I did eventually get to race the iconic local event.

So the Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Tour and Hawke’s Bay Bikepacking were soon fledgling, they always stayed rather low-key. That led to a lot of time and fun traipsing all over the region with my bike trying to find the best bits to share with others. It didn’t always work out, there are plenty of great bits that are difficult to connect – but I sure enjoyed working on it. But amongst the two HBATs and shorter, more casual overnighters I hope I’ve been able to show off some great bits off the beaten track – and hills, plenty of hills. On top of the HBBP page as a resource, I was pleased to get three routes in and help with the excellent Bikepacking Aotearoa guidebook – which far more people will ever use for a bikepacking resource than this rambling site.

Some favourites:

Waipunga Road was my most ridden gravel road – close to work and with an ever-changing gravel surface, a forty kilometre ride would provide over a thousand metres of climbing, views all over the place (especially with a lot of pine-felling in the last year or two), a chance to visit friends, little traffic and the opportunity to go further afield.

The very hilly ride out to the Mangatutu Hot Springs soon became an annual overnighter, the hot soak at the end ample compensation for the effort – the last ten kilometres being especially tiring.

Camping at Waipatiki Beach was always a good option to get away close to home for a casual overnighter – only two or three hours riding after work. Lovely beach too.

HBAT19, the first one, I was thrilled with – people seemed to have a great time, make new friends and enjoy the route. (I got a bit ambitious with HBAT20 in trying to please others and bringing it back to finish in Napier – no one finished! Still, people got out and saw new places on bikes with others; not a complete waste of time.)

The HBOP loop was excellent, if a big weekend – hills of northern Hawke’s Bay, past Waikaremoana, the immense Whirinaki Forest and then more hills back to Tutira. Would have loved to do that again, just somehow cutting out the Napier-Taupo highway section.

Mahia Peninsula is very special, some great riding and sights; unfortunately I didn’t make it up there more than four or five times.

The beaches of Central Hawke’s Bay, and getting there, were a nice point of difference on HBAT and the scouting out there was fun.

Out the back of Tutira, dropping down to the Mohaka, crossing the Te Hoe and then pushing up through farmland before grovelling up the hill out of Willowflat was a treat, albeit tough, of a day ride.

Just last weekend up north of Wairoa was fantastic too – still finding more places I need to ride.

My favourite of all Hawke’s Bay views as they extend all around the bay and one is so high while so close to the ocean, and the ride is pretty good too – Ridgemount and Tiwhanui.

Through all above, so many wonderful friends. But not just for the highlights – the lowlights too, which don’t tend to make it here. Not really having visited before moving here, I knew two people in the area. Some workmates were soon added to the lists of riding buddies and close friends (some both); gradually my small social circles expanded with parkrun, Italian club/lessons, occasional quizzes and other things to friends that I’m going to miss a whole lot.

But that just gives more reason to return soon, amongst whatever else life brings. Still plenty of places to see more of – particularly the Kaweka and Whirinaki Forest Parks (with more time, I should be able to fit more running on top of excessive amounts of biking!).

Thanks Hawke’s Bay, it’s been a great six years; alas, it’s time to move on and spend more time with family further south. Further adventures await.

around home, bikepacking, bikes, family, friends, NZ, shoulder

Christmas Letter 2020

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2020 certainly was a year to remember, or perhaps forget on the other side of the coin. I can’t add much more to what has already been covered, except the personal note. Now home in NZ for longer than I was overseas, I’m well pleased to have chosen to return to a wee country isolated at the bottom of the world that is just that little bit behind the times – a positive boon when a pandemic rears its head. Seven weeks of isolation, working from home, was plenty – I managed just enough riding and running locally to stay relatively sane, but working was not the most productive as I found that difficult to adjust to. Still, we’ve had it far better here than many places and that’s fairly easy to remember as I think of friends and family on distant shores.

Despite the interruption, it was another cracking year of riding bikes. An optimistic weekend loop around Waikaremoana and Whirinaki Forest Park with Pete got things off to a suitable start, the Moerangi Track always a highlight.

Whirinaki Forest Park

February kicked off with joining Pete for his North Island Traverse; I figured riding for three hilly days was the best way to get to the west of the North Island, and riding home from East Cape similarly the obvious solution. So a big triangular, double traverse of the island ensued in which I proved to myself that I could consistently ride two hundred kilometres a day for over a week and still thoroughly enjoy myself seeing new places; kind weather certainly helped.

First day heading west, a detour off the much less interesting Napier-Taihape Gentle Annie Road.

Cape Egmont, western most point.

Pete heading through the rural hills of Taranaki.

Approaching East Cape and a heinous headwind.

Looking towards Waikaremoana on the last night while heading for home.

That experience convinced me to finally bite the bullet and book tickets for a more ambitious bikepacking proposition abroad. Alas, that couldn’t have happened this year – but I found myself not at all disappointed. Instead, with five weeks of annual leave suddenly spare and much flight credit it’s been a perfect opportunity to make the most of being in NZ and being able to see family and friends that would have been neglected if Plan A had been possible.

Local exploration continued when allowed, this little province continuing to fascinate me – mostly with its hills and rivers.

Bike exploration out of the equation during lockdown, I finally took to running around the hill I live on. I gradually strung an optimised route together to link all of the thirty staircases and ramps – after a few weeks of working up to it, I was pleased to run between, and mostly walk up/down, them all on a fifteen kilometre course.

Nope, not a bad spot to be stuck for seven weeks; the weather was brill too.

Once allowed out again, I was itching to explore some of the local trails that I’d never got around to seeing as biking is not permitted there. There followed a series of small trail runs in quiet and isolated native forest. I was fascinated by getting yet another different perspective of areas I’ve biked through many times.

Bell Rock, only very windy and with enough snow around to make things interesting.

Park Run took a bit of a backseat for most of the year, but with much time away getting tiring I’m back into a bit more of a routine but struggling to find my former speed with only one sub-twenty minute five kilometre run for the year. I thought I’d reach my half-century mid-year, alas … I may just sneak in by year-end.

August had a hastily organised week down south visiting family – mostly so I didn’t completely miss all of the first year of my nephew’s life. I didn’t even take a bike (!), but with little snow around I managed daily mountain-biking rides with James and ran a prickly rogaine with Adele. Mum also visited for our birthdays late-August, we enjoyed a long weekend on Mahia Peninsula – a favourite place of mine in Hawke’s Bay that it took me too long to discover. Highlights were bush walks in unrideable places, the extensive nikau grove at Maruia and a week spot of caving. Planning for this year’s Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Tour late October was not nearly as involved as for the inaugural one last year, but still required some delightful rides in different parts of Hawke’s Bay.

Mahia Peninsula, mid-winter.

I was excited to share Whirinaki (the forest park, not the one where I work) with some workmates for a late-winter weekend of bushwalking and a little mountain-biking. I must get back there for longer – but where is the time?!

A small bikepacking event at the end of September finally got me to Golden Bay. The weather completely packed up after the first day of two, and I ended up sheltering from the storm for the second day – and the next two. As I had two weeks off work, it worked well sitting out the foul weather and making the most of the good weather as I toured around the West Coast – spending time with new friends, riding three world class trails and soaking in the stunning scenery.

The calm before the storm on Six Corners event, around Golden Bay.

Just an hour or so of pushing through the snow on the Heaphy.

Back to Waiuta – a favourite from Kiwi Brevet and Tour Aotearoa.

The second time on the Old Ghost Road in five days, this time an out and back to the high point, the first a big through ride starting and ending in Westport on the Monday. Great weather, big views and fabulous riding both times.

As relaxing as that tour was, in hindsight leaving two weeks between that and putting the finishing touches on HBAT was not enough. My HBAT ride didn’t go well, and it took me some weeks before I wanted to go bikepacking again – which was concerning as the summer approached, along with it two big rides early next year. However, the desire to ride all sorts of places and see new things did return after a few weeks of taking it easy and looking after myself a bit more.

An unexpected element of the year was being asked to contribute some of my Hawke’s Bay bikepacking knowledge to a guidebook of shorter (<500 km) routes all around the country. Long video calls with Jonathan ensued discussing route possibilities and bikepacking in general. Somehow two routes I described ended up with full write-ups and another gets in with a brief description. I'm quite honoured and pleased by that - some actual use to all my exploring around here.

I also managed to hurriedly proofread the whole thing just before it went to press – excited by all the places I haven’t yet ridden yet doesn’t begin to describe the feeling from reading a softcopy. Now that some actual copies have arrived wrapped and are under my little Christmas tree (got to put something under there!), I’m itching to get out and ride more new places. A little final scouting ride with a small group from Wellington just as the book was going to press was another highlight of the year. If you’ve any interest in Bikepacking Aotearoa, I suggest you get a copy quickly.

The desire to try and make the most of the freedoms we are currently privileged to have lives on, spurred on not just by the global situation but also the sudden passing of two people only a matter of years younger than me in separate motorbike accidents a few days apart. In doing so, I realise I’ve had overnight trips away the last five weekends, and really am just scratching the surface of places I want to explore nearby. It’s just as well that painting and general house maintenance is now at the stage, after five years, where nothing is pressing enough to curtail weekend adventures.

At long last spending time in the Kawekas, instead of the the edge.

Airbnb for me went the way of much this year, stopping with lockdown and, with no large travel or house expenses looming, not returning yet; I’ve enjoyed the break from the work involved in having guests continually through – it served a purpose for a time, but a year off from it is grand. I still happily welcome fascinating and lovely cycle tourists, but they are few and far between now. Work continues to go well and having a good, stable employer through such a year is another reason to be thankful. I inadvertently had my role expanded and got, what I’m told was, a promotion as my manager moved up the ladder and, as the only one who has any idea what I’m supposed to be doing, dragged me up a bit too.

To my surprise (I’ll believe it when the house is full), my immediate family has decided Christmas is at my house this year – so that’ll be different and I’m looking forward to that, once I’ve caught up on the many neglected little jobs. It’ll be strange having so much time off work and staying at home, but good not to have to travel south as I’ll be doing that late January and late February for two bikepacking events. The first is the next iteration of the toughest one I’ve ever done (different route), but I’ll have to take it easy as only two weeks later is the inaugural Tour Te Waipounamu – which I’m sure will quickly take the mantle of hardest event I’ve attempted. With so much new country to see, it’s proper exciting.

Proofreading all that, it really hasn’t been that bad a year here – just a bit mad in parts. Even so, I’m looking forward to a better and more settled 2021 – I hope yours is too. Merry Christmas all, and thanks for reading this far.

Postscript: Fortunately, I found the time to write that above last week (typing is now difficult) – as life can change so quickly, which is all the more reason to make the most of whatever opportunities are available. Just about to start applying the second coat of deck stain yesterday morning, I too-enthusiastically reached for something, heard my poor shoulder tear apart and dislocate again. Thus started six hours of cycling through discomfort, pain, and agony – increasingly drug-addled for the time it took four doctors to attempt to get it back in. With a very busy Emergency Department, eventually they knocked me out completely and relocated it.

So now I’ve finished work a bit earlier for the year and, wonderfully, my parents arrived yesterday afternoon and I’m being well looked after. Hard to say where to from here, that’s six dislocations now – two in the last two years since surgery over eight years ago; I guess another round of MRIs and I might be more receptive to further surgery – because it really was a quite innocuous movement yesterday. So a more subdued Christmas is to be had, but that’s ok as the shoulder situation is only a little dip down (been here before) in my wee life c.f. this rather crazy and ever-changing world, plus I’ll get to spend a lot of time with my family over the next fortnight – although hugs and picking up my young nephew are and will be difficult.

around home, bikepacking, bikes, event, MTB, NZ

The Christmas Letter 2019

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Catching some time as I fly south for Christmas, there’s a chance to sit, consider and write of the year. Naturally, there was much biking. Without any really big trips (longer than a week), I’m pleased to have consistently ridden all year and clocked up my biggest year yet – ticking over eleven thousand kilometres yesterday on my last commute of the year.

The longest ride of the year was way back in January, the Great Southern Brevet, which turned out to be the toughest one I’ve done yet. After being blown off my bike four days in a row, I’ve a new standard for windiness. Fantastic scenery and good company accompanied the challenge and it was a satisfying finish – I look forward to the next one, and more exploring around that area.

Day Two of the GSB, a short section of Otago Central Rail Trail – before we got up high and the wind hit.

A late evening ride up Danseys Pass.

All other bikepacking for the year was North Island focused – much close to home as I thoroughly enjoyed planning and scouting the first Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Tour. Through a mild and dry winter, much exploring of back roads led to a 550 km route from the south to the north of the province. I’d have happily done all that work so I could ride it solo, so I was thrilled that thirteen of us set off together and nine made it to the end on Mahia Peninsula over many hills. In the two months since then, a couple of low-key overnighters from Napier have been well attended and enjoyed; satisfying and such fun to share some local routes with others.

South from Te Apiti Station towards Kairakau.

HBAT departing Waipawa.

Heading to Waipatiki for the last and shortest overnighter of the year.

Strangely, I also entered a MTB race – the quintessential Hawke’s Bay event, Triple Peaks. For the first time since I’ve lived here, the forecast was good – meaning that all three summits would be included. For a MTB race, there was a lot of hike-a-bike and as the name suggests – plenty of climbing. That suited me well, and I was surprised with a top ten finish. Most enjoyable and pleasing to finally get up to the top of Mt Kahuranaki.

Nearing the top of Kahuranaki.

Unusually, biking took a bit of a back seat for three months when, after many years of being a non-runner and wondering if I had a marathon in me, I bit the bullet and entered the local one. Never having run more than ten kilometres, I settled into three months of run-specific training, with only Easter bikepacking distracting me near the end. I lined up on an unusually frigid morning quietly confident that I’d somehow run fifty percent further than I ever had before. It all went as expected and I was pleased to finish easily within my goal of four hours. I’m not sure I’ll ever train for another, it takes too much time away from riding – but more trail running and keeping run-fit that way appeals.

Since then, running has mostly been Saturday morning Park Runs – which I find a great way to get the weekend started. I’ve enjoyed a little bit of Park Run tourism, but mostly I’ve run my local one and it’s been good to get to know a few people there. It’s now regularly over a hundred people out running and walking the flat, smooth five kilometre course. With my attendance being somewhat sporadic (biking trips take precedence), I was well pleased with improving my best time a couple of times throughout the year; now down tantalisingly close to nineteen minutes, that leaves a good goal for 2020.

My first island holiday, in Niue, was great to have planned straight after the marathon. Completely different to any other vacation I’ve ever been on, I thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing week spent with Adele and James and McKirdys snorkelling, walking, exploring and eating our way around the small island. Managing to tack a weekend in Melbourne on to a work trip for my birthday and a long weekend visiting family in Sydney were worthwhile additions to make up my complement of overseas travel.

Closer to home, various volunteer opportunities come and go. Favourite ones are always helping out at different events – biking, triathlon, running and so on, so I look forward to more of those next year. A steady stream of guests have been through my home this year, some of which help to offset the cost of house maintenance. With a new roof, some building work and finally finishing painting the exterior of the house, it’s looking good and should be able to withstand the elements for many more years. Painting weatherboards while listening to books I find pleasantly relaxing, but there will be far less of that next year – so more time for exploring near and far on a bike. Cycle touring guests arrive with irregularity – they’re good fun and always happy to share stories of places toured and ideas for more rides.

Work this year has been fulfilling as I settle into the role of Process Safety Engineer. Pleasingly two projects that have been going for three years reached significant milestones – most notably our safety case was approved by the regulator, the inspection next year shall be an interesting gauge of how we’re doing embedding many new systems introduced over those years. A mid-year course had me sitting an exam for the first time since university; rather out of practice and with seventy-five percent required to pass, it was a bit of a shock to the system (especially four hours long), so I was pleased to pass and be able to add Functional Safety Engineer to my few qualifications – not that that helps much with riding bikes. 2020 will prove to be interesting as all those in the direct line above me are changing roles, and my role will continue to develop.

Not something I’ve done, but very exciting news nonetheless: there’s recently been a new arrival in the family and I have my first nibling. Many congratulations to Adele and James, I look forward to meeting young George shortly. Unexpectedly, he’s also my middle-namesake – quite the honour there. I’m down south for the holidays, there may be a little bit of riding and running between the festivities and time with family. I expect next year will develop further on that part – I’m particularly keen on a couple of riding routes this summer that have been on the list since I moved to Napier. Best wishes for all.